Excerpts: Oaktree Capital Group, LLC, Form 10-K

Closed-end Funds

• Our closed-end funds are typically structured as limited partnerships that have a 10- or 11-year term and have a specified period during which clients can subscribe for limited partnership interests in the fund. Once a client is admitted as a limited partner, that client is required to contribute capital when called by us as the general partner, and generally cannot withdraw its investment. Our closed-end funds have an investment period that generally ranges from three to five years, during which we are permitted to call the committed capital of those funds to make investments. As closed-end funds liquidate their investments, we typically distribute the proceeds to the clients, although during the investment period we have the ability to retain or recall such proceeds to make additional investments. Once we have committed to invest approximately 80% of the capital in a particular fund, we typically raise a new fund in the same strategy, generally ensuring that we always have capital to invest in new opportunities. We may also provide discretionary management services for clients within our closed-end fund strategies through a separate account or a limited partnership or limited liability company managed by us with the client as the sole limited partner or sole non-managing member (a “fund-of-one”).
• Our closed-end funds also include collateralized loan obligation vehicles (“CLOs”) for which we serve as collateral manager. CLOs are structured finance vehicles in which we make an investment and for which we are entitled to earn management fees. Investors in CLOs are generally unable to redeem their interests until the CLO liquidates, is called or otherwise terminates.

Open-end Funds

• Our commingled open-end funds are typically structured as limited partnerships that are designed to admit clients as new limited partners (or accept additional capital from existing limited partners) on an ongoing basis during the fund’s life. Clients in commingled open-end funds typically contribute all of their committed capital upon being admitted to the fund. These funds do not have an investment period and do not distribute proceeds of realized investments to clients. We are permitted to commit the fund’s capital (including realized proceeds) to new investments at any time during the fund’s life. Clients in commingled open-end funds generally have the right to withdraw their capital from the fund on a monthly basis (with prior written notice of up to 90 days).
• We also provide discretionary management services for clients through separate accounts, predominantly within the open-end fund strategies. Clients establish accounts with us by depositing funds or securities into accounts maintained by qualified independent custodians and granting us discretionary authority to invest such funds pursuant to their investment needs and objectives, as stated in an investment management agreement. Separate account clients generally may terminate our services at any time by providing us with prior notice of 30 days or less.

Source: Oaktree Capital